Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Introduce the concept of flexible thinking, help the student spot rigid thought patterns, and practice generating more adaptable alternatives.
Rigid thoughts fuel anxiety and limit problem-solving. Teaching flexibility equips the student with coping strategies to manage stress and adapt to change.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Flexible vs. Rigid Thinking
10 minutes
Step 3
Identify Rigid Thoughts
15 minutes
Step 4
Reflect & Personalize
10 minutes
Step 5
Flexible Thinking Game
15 minutes
Step 6
Wrap-Up & Homework
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 1
Objectives
Warm-Up: Deep Breathing
What Is Rigid Thinking?
What Is Flexible Thinking?
Activity: Identify Rigid Thoughts
Reflect & Personalize
Game: Flexible Thinking
Wrap-Up & Homework
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Help the student recognize personal triggers that drive their need for control and practice shifting toward flexible, choice-based responses.
Anxiety and inflexible control behaviors often stem from unrecognized triggers. Identifying triggers and learning choice-focused strategies empowers the student to respond more adaptively and reduce stress.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Review Session 1
10 minutes
Step 3
Introduce Triggers
10 minutes
Step 4
Identify Personal Triggers
15 minutes
Step 5
Control vs. Choice
10 minutes
Step 6
Role-Play Flexible Responses
5 minutes
Step 7
Wrap-Up & Homework
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 2
Objectives
Warm-Up: Deep Breathing
Review: Flexible Thinking
What Are Triggers?
Activity: Identify Personal Triggers
Control vs. Choice
Activity: Control vs. Choice
Game: Role-Play Flexible Responses
Wrap-Up & Homework
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Lesson Plan
Teach the student a personalized “coping skills toolbox” and practice choosing flexible, action-oriented responses when they feel triggered.
Having a ready set of coping strategies and action plans helps reduce anxiety, supports flexible thinking, and empowers the student to respond adaptively to triggers.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Review Session 2
10 minutes
Step 3
Introduce Coping Skills Toolbox
10 minutes
Step 4
Build Personal Toolbox
15 minutes
Step 5
Practice Flexible Actions
10 minutes
Step 6
Action Planning
5 minutes
Step 7
Wrap-Up & Homework
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 3
Objectives
Warm-Up: Deep Breathing
Review: Triggers & Choices
What Is a Coping Skills Toolbox?
Activity: Build Your Toolbox
Game: Practice Flexible Actions
Activity: Action Planning
Wrap-Up & Homework
Reading
Worksheet
Worksheet
Lesson Plan
Session 4 Lesson Plan
Guide the student to recognize and challenge negative self-talk, explore core beliefs, and create positive affirmations to reinforce flexible thinking.
Negative core beliefs and harsh self-talk deepen rigid thinking and anxiety. Teaching students to challenge these thoughts and develop affirmations builds resilience, self-confidence, and adaptable mindsets.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Review Session 3
10 minutes
Step 3
Introduce Self-Talk
10 minutes
Step 4
Identify Core Beliefs
10 minutes
Step 5
Challenge Negative Beliefs
10 minutes
Step 6
Create Affirmations
5 minutes
Step 7
Role-Play Self-Talk
5 minutes
Step 8
Wrap-Up & Homework
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 4
Objectives
Warm-Up: Deep Breathing
Review: Coping Toolbox
What Is Self-Talk?
Activity: Identify Core Beliefs
Activity: Challenge Negative Beliefs
Activity: Create Affirmations
Game: Role-Play Self-Talk
Wrap-Up & Homework
Lesson Plan
Session 5 Lesson Plan
Consolidate flexible thinking, control-management, coping strategies, and positive self-talk learned in prior sessions. Practice integrating skills through interactive activities and create a personalized maintenance plan for continued success.
Reviewing and celebrating progress reinforces skill retention and confidence. A maintenance plan empowers the student to sustain flexibility, manage anxiety, and adapt to change independently.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Review & Celebrate
10 minutes
Step 3
Integration Game
20 minutes
Step 4
Skills Review Quiz
15 minutes
Step 5
Personal Maintenance Plan
5 minutes
Step 6
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 5
Objectives
Warm-Up: Deep Breathing
Review & Celebrate
Key Skills Review
Game: Integration Game
Activity: Skills Review Quiz
Activity: Personal Maintenance Plan
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Introduce rigid thinking and control patterns, practice spotting them in scenarios and personal experiences, and set up daily tracking to build awareness.
Rigid, control-focused thoughts fuel anxiety and limit adaptability. By identifying these patterns and reflecting on them, the student gains insight and prepares to shift toward more flexible thinking.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Define Rigid Thinking & Control
15 minutes
Step 3
Scenario-Based Identification
15 minutes
Step 4
Personal Patterns Exploration
15 minutes
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Homework
10 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 1
Objectives
Warm-Up: Deep Breathing
What Is Rigid Thinking?
What Is the Need for Control?
Activity: Identify Rigid Thoughts
Activity: Explore Personal Patterns
Wrap-Up & Homework
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Learn to transform rigid thoughts into multiple flexible alternatives, practice through role-play, and develop a personalized calming plan.
Building on awareness of rigid thinking, generating flexible alternatives and a calming plan equips the student with concrete strategies to manage anxiety and adapt to change.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Review Rigid vs. Flexible Thinking
10 minutes
Step 3
Generate Flexible Alternatives
15 minutes
Step 4
Role-Play Flexible Responses
15 minutes
Step 5
Create Personal Calming Plan
10 minutes
Step 6
Wrap-Up & Homework
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 2
Objectives
Warm-Up: Check-In & Deep Breathing
Review: Rigid vs. Flexible Thinking
Activity: Generate Flexible Alternatives
Activity: Role-Play Flexible Responses
Activity: Create Personal Calming Plan
Wrap-Up & Homework
Worksheet
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Lesson Plan
Teach the student to build a personalized coping toolbox, practice flexible actions for unexpected changes, and plan step-by-step responses for future triggers.
A ready set of coping strategies and clear action plans reduces anxiety, strengthens flexible thinking, and empowers the student to adapt when things don’t go as expected.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Review Session 2
10 minutes
Step 3
Introduce Coping Skills Toolbox
10 minutes
Step 4
Build Personal Toolbox
15 minutes
Step 5
Practice Flexible Actions
10 minutes
Step 6
Action Planning
5 minutes
Step 7
Wrap-Up & Homework
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Flex Your Mind: Session 3
Objectives
Warm-Up: Deep Breathing
Review: Triggers & Strategies
What Is a Coping Skills Toolbox?
Activity: Build Your Toolbox
Game: Practice Flexible Actions
Activity: Action Planning
Wrap-Up & Homework
Lesson Plan
Session 4 Lesson Plan
Guide the student to recognize and challenge negative self-talk, explore core beliefs, and create positive affirmations to reinforce flexible thinking.
Negative core beliefs and harsh self-talk deepen rigid thinking and anxiety. Teaching students to challenge these thoughts and develop affirmations builds resilience, self-confidence, and adaptable mindsets.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Review Session 3
10 minutes
Step 3
Introduce Self-Talk
10 minutes
Step 4
Identify Core Beliefs
10 minutes
Step 5
Challenge Negative Beliefs
10 minutes
Step 6
Create Affirmations
5 minutes
Step 7
Role-Play Self-Talk
5 minutes
Step 8
Wrap-Up & Homework
5 minutes
